Tabulator stop assembly



Sept. 16, 1958 R, RAUN A 2, 52,120

, TABULATOR STOP ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 19, 1956 INVENTORS \RICHARD BRAUN. BY GUNTHER KERN ATTORNEYS BMW 40.5

United States Patent TABULATOR STOP ASSEMBLY Richard Braun, Hartford, and Gunther Kern, Cromwell, Conn., assignors to Royal McBee Corporation, Port Chester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 19, 1956, Serial No. 610,784

13 Claims. (Cl. 197-70) This invention relates to tabulator stop assemblies of the kind used, for example, with typewriting or like machines. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in the construction of stop assemblies of the kind comprising an elongated stop mount, such as a bar or the like, and a plurality of stops carried on the mount for movements selectively from retracted or ineffective positions to projected or operating positions.

It previously has been common to provide such constructions with cooperable detenting means on the stop mount and the individual stops for yieldably retaining the stops in set positions, either retracted or projected. In one well known class of such constructions, the stops have been provided with individual detent springs, which,

because of the close positioning of the stops on the mount,

necessarily have been quite small, and hence rather fragile, requiring replacement from time to time. It has also been proposed to provide a single deflectable member, such as a rod or coiled spring, extending longitudinally of a set of stops and being cooperable-in common with all of them for detenting purposes. A long detenting rod used for such a purpose has the disadvantage that it is deflected generally over at least a substantial part of its lengthwhen it is subjected to the detenting action of a single stop being moved from retracted to projected position, or vice versa, with the result that the holding action of the rod on nearby stops is reduced and rendered less certain. A construction including a single elongated coiled spring as a detenting element cooperable with a complete array of individual stops, as previously proposed, has left much to be desired with respect to supporting the spring, and enabling removal of individual stops from the assembly. Examples of previously known constructions including detenting members common to a plurality of stops are shown in the patents to Steele 1,045,- 452; Myers 1,249,456; and Schremp 2,312,676.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tabulator stop assembly construction including an elongated detenting means coopera-ble individually with a plurality of selectively settable stops and in which the.

difiiculties previously encountered are eliminated or min. imized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the class referred to in which the detenting means comprises a flexible element such as a coiled spring, having the property of being locally deformable by the detenting action of a stop moved individually, so that the retaining eifect of the detenting means on other stops will not be materially lessened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the character stated in which the elongated flexible detenting means is backed up substantially throughout its length by a cushion which contributes to localizing the deformation of the flexible detenting means to the immediate vicinity of an individually moved stop.

A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the kind referred to in which the parts are so arranged and connected together as to facilitate removal "ice of one or more stops from the stop mount without requiring that all of the stops be removed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description of a preferred construction, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a construction embodying the invention, some of the parts being shown in separated relation, some of the parts being shown in vertical section fore-and-aft of a typewriting machine, and others of the parts being broken away;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in front elevation with some parts being shown in vertical section longitudinally or from side-to-side of the typewriting machine, and other parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, fore-andaft of the machine, with a tabulator stop and parts of a stop setting and resetting mechanism being shown in end elevation, the tabulator stop being shown in its retracted position in full lines and in its intermediate and projected positions in dotted lines, a main frame mounted stop blade being shown in its inactive position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the tabulator stop in its projected position and the frame mounted tabulator blade in its active or stop intercepting position; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4, but showing a stop resetting mechanism in operating position for returning projected tabulator stops to their retracted positions.

Tabulator stop assemblies embodying the invention are adapted for use in connection with machines of different general constructions. For the purposes of illustration, a preferred construction in accordance with the invention is illustrated as being associated with mechanism of the kind customarily embodied in Royal IO-key decimal tabulating typewriting machines. Only enough of the machine organization, other than the tabulator stop assembly construction, is illustrated to exemplify one typical use of constructions embodying the invention. In the general organization of the illustrated machine components, an elongated tabulator stop mount A is incorporated in the travelling carriage of a typewriting machine so as to extend in the directionof carriage travel on the main frame, not shown. A plurality of tabulator stops B are supported on and spaced along the mount for movement transverse to the mount from retracted positions in whichthey are incapable of elfecting any tabulating control function to projected positions in which they are cooperable with mechanism carried by the main frame for arresting the carriage at the selected tabular position.

The stops B are movable selectively from their retracted to their projected positions by a stop setting lever C adapted to be rocked by suitable actuating mechanism, not shown, from its position shown in full lines in Figure 3 counterclockwise progressively to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 to engage the adjacent vertical edge of a stop B which has been disposed in alignment with the setting lever C bypositioning the carriage on the frame in a well known manner. When a stop has beenv set in its projected position as shown in dotted lines at B in Figure Sand in full lines in Figures 4 and 5,, it is engageable with a selected one of the ten framemounted stop blades D which has been moved into the path of the projected stop B for intercepting the latter and bringing the carriage to rest in its tabulating position. Stops B which have been set in projected positions may conveniently be returned to retracted positions edges of projected stops B when the lever E is rocked clockwise as viewed'inFigure 3 to the position shown in dottedlinesiu Figure 5', andthecarriageisthenmoved' along the frame, causing theiprojected stops to be wiped back, so.to speak, by therollere into their retracted positions;

The organizationzof' components. described generally aboveand its manner of operation. are generally similar. to the'organization and operatiomofthe -keyidecimal tabulating typewriter mechanism disclosedv in" the patent to Lewis, C. Myers et al, 1,892,071, dated'D'ecember 27, 10 19321 The tabulator stop mount'A comprisespara-llel spaced 1 parts, in the form shown upperand lower toothed bars 1" and 2, connected' at their opposite ends respectivelyby' plates; one of which is shown at'3 in Figure 1 as being" secured to the bar ends by screws 4 and 5. Each of the plates 3' is pr vided. with'a'. threaded rodor stem 6. which extends through an aperture 7'in' the adjacent. carriage frame end plate, one of which" is shown'at'8 in Figure 1;. Nuts 9, 9 threaded. onto each 'rod 6. and screwed". up against opposite sides of theassociated endplate v secure the mountA to the carriage frame.

The bars 1' and 2 of the mount are positioned: with their toothed sides facingeachother so as to provide pairs of oppositely disposed aligned grooves or slots 10' extending transversely of the mount for respectively re, ceiving the individual stops B, one stop in each pair. of" aligned grooves. In this. manner the stops are mounted for sliding transverse movement between retractedpositions as shown in full lines in Figure 3 to projectedpositions as shown in dotted lines B in Figure.3 andiinfulllines in Figures 4 and 5', in' the latter ofwhichposiw tions the stops are interceptible by a selectedand actuated frame mounted stop blade D.

The stops B are all of similar.construction each being 30 formed on its upper exposed marginal edge 11 with a hump providing a detent 12. Means, generally designated F, on the mount A is cooperable, with the stops B and" their detent means12 for both retaining the stops against separation or removal from the mount, and for releasably. holding the stops in their retracted'or projected positions. In accordance with the invention, the stop retaining and detent cooperating meansF comprises an elongated flexible means 13 extending longitudinally of the mount and in engagement along its bottom side with. the stops B, and an elongated backing means 14" carried by the mount A in such a position as to back up the flexible means 13 along its top side and yieldably resist deflection of the latter upwardly or away from the stop. marginal edges 11. The flexible meanslfi and'backing means 14 areremovably connected to the assembly by-a retainer bar 15, generally L-shaped in cross section, secured to the upper mount bar 1 by screws, one of which. is shown at 16, the bar 15 having a part 15' which overlies the mount bar 1 and engages the top surface of the backing means 14 remote from the spring 13', and apart 15 spaced forwardly from the front surface of thebar 1' and extending downwardly alongside the backing means 14 and, preferably, the flexible means 13'.

Desirably, the flexible detentingmeans-13 is of, unitary elongated construction, being formed, for example, as. a one-piece coiled spring. interposed between the stops B and the backing means 14. inamanner to be engagedby the backing means 14 substantially throughoutthe length. of the spring 13'. The backing means. 14 may also. be of one-piece or unitary form, and is shown asbeing eonstituted by a single strip of cushioning material, for example soft rubber. Other similarly soft on yieldablema.-- terials, e. g. synthetics, having substantial-lythe cushioningproperties of soft rubber may also beused. The. arnange, ment is such that the upper mount bar 1, the retainer 15, and the spring 13 together surround and confine the'back: ing 14 sothat any upward deformation of the spring 13 necessarily causes the rubber strip 14 to; be compressed,

as distinguished from. being; deflected. 7 5

The strip 14 and the part 15 of the retainer project below'the bottom-surface of the mount bar-'1 m an-extent however, individually totally separable from the mount A by following "a simple procedure. Any stop or stops B may, easilyr beremoved". for replacement by simply de-. taching the; screws, 16. and retainer 15, and; lifting the spring 13 and;,backing strip; 14. slightly, the other; stops B being left undisturbed. in the associatedslotslflin the mount A. The individual removal of separate stops is possible because of the. positioning of;the spring 13 exteriorly of and across the similarly disposed marginal edges 11 of the stops.

Normally, when no tabulating operation is calledfor,

the stops B will be in theretractedpositions shown in full,

lines inFigure 3with the spring 13 engaging the leftsides of'the-stop detents 12 and thelower portions of the abut ments173 The cushioning strip" 14 presses or holds the tratedin-full lines' in Figures 4 and 5, the exactlimit'of the movement ofthe-stop to its projected position being;

determined byengagernen't; of the stop abutment'18 with thedepending part 15*" of the retainer 15; The stop having been setin its'projected position, the right side of its .d'etent- 12 will beincontact with the spring-113 which,

backedup and assisted by the cushioning strip- 14', will retain the stopagainstaccidental displacement back to its;

retractedposition.

Since the spring13 is backed up by the cushioning memberl4througli0t1t its entire length, it is not subjected to ageneral; longitudinal stretching or deflection when traversed by'astop detent 12, but is deformedonly locally-adjacent to the moving detent, the localdeformation of the spring being resisted; by the adjacent part of the cushioning strip 14; Consequently, the retainingef feet of. the spring 13 upon, the other stops, not being moved, is not disturbed or even substantially varied. Moreover, the deflection of the spring, localized. because of being backed up by the cushion 14, does, not tend to open or separate normally contacting-0r substantially con.- tacting adjacent spring convolutions at any pointv of engagement ofthe spring with any of. thestops B.

'Iheselected stop or. group of. stops B having been. set. fon cooperation with the frame mounted tabulator stop.

fingers D,- the tabulatingoperations may be performedzin the usual and well known manner. So, too, resettingoi the stopsto their retractedpositions may be performed in aknown manner through the agency of theresetting device E.

The construction shown embodies the invention in; a

versely thereof between retractedrandi projected positions;

detent means respectively on said stops; and means: on; said mount cooperable with saiddetent meansfor releasably holding said stops in selected positions, comprisingan; elongated. flexible: means carried by said mount and extending longitudinally of said mount with one side of said flexible means engaging said detent means, and an elongated backing means of cushioning material carried by said mount and engaging said flexible means on the other of its sides along the length of said flexible means.

2. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said flexible means comprises a coiled p 3. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said backing means material has substantially the cushioning properties of yieldable rubber.

4. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 including means on said mount cooperable with said flexible means for surrounding and confining said backing means, the latter being compressible whereby said flexible means may be locally pressed into the confined backing means by the detent means on one of said stops when the latter is moved from one of its selective positions to the other.

5. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said stops and said mount have cooperable abutments for limiting movement of said stops transverse to said mount.

6. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said flexible means is constituted by a single one-piece coiled spring having its adjacent convolutions in contact with each other.

7. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said backing means is constituted by a single one-piece strip of cushion material having substantially the cushioning properties of yieldable rubber.

8. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 1 in which said flexible means comprises a coiled spring and said backing means comprises a strip of cushion material having substantially the cushioning properties of soft rubber, said backing means contacting said flexible means substantially throughout the length of the latter.

9. In a tabulator stop assembly, an elongated stop mount; a plurality of stops carried by said mount .in spaced relation therealong and being movable transversely thereof between retracted and projected positions; detent means respectively on said stops; means on said mount cooperable with said detent means for releasably holding said stops in selected positions, comprising an elongated flexible means carried by said mount and extending longitudinally of said mount with one side of said flexible means engaging said detent means, and an elongated backing means of cushioning material carried by said mount and engaging said flexible means on the other of its sides along the length of said flexible means; and means detachably secured to said mount for releasably retaining said flexible means and said backing means on said mount in cooperative relation to said stops.

10. A tabulator stop assembly construction as set forth in claim 9 in which said retaining means comprises an L-shaped bar having one part engaging said backing means along the surface thereof remote from said flexible means and another part extending alongside and being spaced from a surface on said mount and engaging a surface on said backing means, said backing means being substantially surrounded and confined by said flexible means, said retaining means, and said mount surface.

11. In a tabulator stop assembly, an elongated stop mount; a plurality of stops carried by said mount in spaced relation therealong and being movable transversely thereof between retracted and projected positions; detent means respectively on said stops; means on said mount cooperable with said detent means for releasably holding said stops in selected positions, comprising an elongated flexible means carried by said mount and extending longitudinally of said mount with one side of said flexible means engaging said detent means, and an elongated backing means of cushioning material carried by said mount and engaging said flexible means on the other of its sides along the length of said flexible means; abutments respectively on said stops engageable with one of two means, namely: said flexible means and said backing means, for limiting movement of said stops transverse to said mount and for preventing removal of said stops from said mount; and means detachably secured to said mount for releasably retaining said flexible means, said backing means and said stops on said mount.

12. In a tabulator stop assembly, an elongated stop mount comprising two spaced parallel bars formed with pairs of aligned transverse slots; a plurality of stops mounted for transverse movement in respective pairs of slots between retracted and projected positions; detent means respectively on said stops; a backing strip of cushioning material; a retaining member detachably secured to one of said mount bars for holding said backing strip against said bar with one edge of said backing strip facing toward but being spaced from said stop detent means; and an elongated flexible member interposed between and engaging both said stops and said backing strip substantially throughout their lengths and thereby exerting force on said detents for holding said stops against transverse movement, both said flexible member and said backing strip being locally deformable by said stop detent means for enabling any selected stop to be shifted transversely from one position to the other without substantially diminishing the holding force exerted by said flexible member on other stops.

13. In a tabulator stop assembly, an elongated stop mount; a plurality of stops carried by said mount in spaced relation therealong and being movable transversely thereof between retracted and projected positions; detent means respectively on similarly disposed outer marginal edges of said stops; an elongated flexible means connectable to said mount to extend parallel to said mount transversely of said stops for cooperation with said detents to releasably hold said stops in selected positions; abutments on said stops respectively engageable with said flexible means when the latter is connected to said mount for preventing movement of said stops transverse to said mount suflicient to separate said stops from said mount; and means for detachably connecting said flexible means to said mount, said stops being individually separable from said mount when said flexible means has been disconnected from said mount.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 971,944 Waldheim Oct. 4, 1910 2,023,508 Benner Dec. 10, 1935 2,312,676 Schremp Mar. 2, 1943 

